Carton



Jan. 13, .1953 w FEHRENKAMP 2,625,315

CARTON Filed March 28, 1949 Snvemor attorney]:

Patented Jan. 13, 1953 T OFFICE CARTON Emil William Fehrenkamp, Kansas City, Mo., as-

signor to Burd & Fletcher (30., Kansas City, Mo.', a corporation of Missouri Application March 28, 1949; Serial No. 83,851

This invention relates to cartons and particularly to a closure therefor to prevent spilling of the contents when the carton is filled. Cartons used by concession stands in the packaging of pop corn and similar confections must be rapidly handled during the rush periods as between shows and during intermissions. Consequently, closure flaps have not heretofore been satisfactory because closure flaps have been diflicult to manipulate and pressure on the sides of the cartons causes the flaps to open up and permit the strewing of the contents on the floor of the lobby in which such concessions are usually located.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the invention to provide a carton with closure flaps that are easily and quickly manipulated and which cannot spring apart under pressure of the contents.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a locking tab on one of the flaps that is adapted to slide easily into a slit of an opposite flap by a slight canting movement of the flaps; and to provide a locking tab of hook shape that slides readily into the slit and which is retained in hooked engagement by transverse pull imparted by pressure of the contents.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention I have provided improved structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a carton equipped with closure flaps constructed in accordance with the present invention. I .Fig. 2 is a plan view ofthe cartonshowing the end and one of the side flaps closed over the insert opening preparatory to folding of the other side flap thereover. r

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the overlying side flap canted to slide the hookthereof into engagement with the slit of the other side flap.

Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the completion of the closure.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the blank from which the carton is formed.

Referring more in detail to the drawing:

l designates a carton especially constructed for the use of concession stands in that it is adapted to be shipped and stored in collapsed condition, readily erected, and nested with similar cartons to occupy a minimum of space available in such concession stands and which is quickly filled and the flaps closed to retain the contents. M

. The carton is formed from a blank 2 died from ht ca dboard stockoriother suitable me- 1 Claim. (Cl. 22%)545) terial. The blank illustrated is provided with scores 3,4, 5, and 6 converging from junctures with upper transverse scores 1, 8, 9 and ID toward bottom transverse scores ll, I2, I 3 and I 4. The score 5 is spaced from the edge l5 of the blank to provide a side sealing flap l6, while the score 3 is spaced from the edge I! to cooperate with the space between the scores 4 and 5 in providing the larger side walls 18 and I9 of the carton. The scores 3 and 4, and. 5 and 6 are spaced apart to constitute the narrower side walls 20 and 2| of the carton. The side walls of the carton. are thus wider along their upper edges as formed by the scores I, 8, 9 and I0 than along the lower edges formed bythe scores ll, l2, l3 and I 4- so that when;thei cartons are completed they are readily nested and stored for use during rush periods.

Extending from the scores ll, [2, l3 and it are flaps 22, 23, 24 and 25 which when folded constitute the bottom of the carton. The construction of the bottom flaps constitute no part of the present invention as such construction is covered in my copending application, Serial No. 8,183, filed February 13, 1948.

Similarly extending from the score lines 1, 8, 9 and H] are top closure flaps. 26, 2'1, 28 and 29. The flaps 21 and 2.9'are coextensive with the upper edges of the side walls 20 and 2| and are relatively short so as to not interfere with filling of the carton. The flaps-'26 and 28 are coextensive with the upper edges of the larger side walls [8 and I9 and are of a depth so that when folded over the insert opening the outer edges 30 "and 3| overlap. .The end edges 32 of the flaps 26 and 28 converge fromthe terminal of the scores 1 and 3 toward the edges 3!] and 3| as shown in Fig.5. The fiap 28 constitutes the underlying flap and the edge 30 is substantially parallel with thescore 9. The flap 26 constitutes an overlying flap and the edge 3|, is specially formed to provide a locking tab 33- of hook-like shape. The overall widthof the locking tab is located substantially centrally of the edge 3i. The locking tab is shaped so that the side 34 adjacent the score 3 extends at substantially rightangles with the edge 3! and joins therewith in. a; roundingcurve 35. The opposite side of the tabis .shaped to provide ahook 36 spaced from the edge 3| by an inwardlyextending notch'3'l, one side of which constitutes a continuation of the edge 3| at that side of the Help and the other edge 38 diverges outwardly and terminates in a rounding curve -3'9 joining with theputer edge 40 of the locking tabas shown in Fig.5. v;'I?he major portion of the edgejdil extends substantially parallel with the score 1; however, to permit ready engagement of the locking tab, the corner thereof opposite the hook portion is cut on an angle sloping in the same direction as the edge 38 as indicated at 4| so as to facilitate engagement of th locking tab with a slit 42 in the closure flap 28 as later described.

Attention is here directed to the fact that the end of the closure flap 26 is of greater depth on one side then on the other to correspond with the position of the slit 42.

The slit 42 includes a transverse portion 43 that is spaced from the score 9 and slopes slightly toward the score in the direction of the end of the blank carrying the locking tab whereby one end is closer to the hook end of the locking tab when the locking tab is to be inserted therein as later described for facilitating entrance of the hook. The portion 43 of the slit is slightly longer than the neck portion of the locking tab between the edge 34 and the crotch of the notch 3'1. The ends of the slit portion 42 terminate in angular portions 44 and 45 which converge at differential angles toward the edge 30, with the portion 45 extending substantially in the same direction as the edges 38 and 4! of the locking tab when the flaps are moved to overlapped relation to provide entrance of the locking tab and permit camming action of the edge 4| to effect sliding movement of the edge 38 along the slot portion 45 as later described the slit portion 44 being at a greater angle with respect to the portion 43 than the portion 45 to facilitate entrance of the neck of the tab. The inclination of the slit 42 in the flap 30 requires that the edge portions 3| on the respective sides of the locking tab have differential spacing from the scores I.

To facilitate folding of the blank, the blank is provided along the scores 3, 4, 5 and 6 with a spaced series of slits 46 to leave relatively narrow intermediate portions 41 on which the blank hinges. At the time of construction, the blank is folded on the scores 6 and 4 to bring the side sealing flap 6 into engagement with the inner marginal face of the edge 2 to complete the manufacture. The blanks are therefore stored in collapsed position and may be shipped and stored at the concession stands in relatively small spaces.

To erect the cartons, pressure is applied on the edges formed by the folds 4 and 6 to cause bending on the score lines 3 and 5, after which the bottom flaps are folded inwardly and secured as disclosed in my copending application, to complete the erection of the carton. When thus folded, the top flaps extend outwardly so that the carton may be readily filled without interference. After filling, the end flaps 21 and 29 are turned inwardly between the side closure flaps 26 and 28. The closure flap 28 having the slit is then folded over the side flaps as shown in Fig. 2. In this position the longer portion 42 of the slit is in position to receive the locking tab. The side flap 26 having the locking tab is then folded over the side flaps with the edge 3| overlying the edge 30 of the underlying side flap. In this position the side flap 28 is slightly canted out of alignment with the flap 26 so as to bring the rounded terminal 39 of the hook 36 into position to pass through the nearest end of the elongated portion 42 of the slit as shown in Fig. 3. Continued pressure on the flap 26, causes the edge 40 of the tab to slide along the inclined slit until the cam edges 4! engage the end of the slot whereupon the cam edge 4! and edge 38 engaging the end of 4 the slit portion 42 and inclined slit portion 45 respectively cause the crotch of the hook shaped end of the tab to engage that end of the slot portion 42 when the right angular portion slides through the other end of the slit 42.

When the locking tab is in final position the rounded edge 35 engages the terminal of the slit 44 and retains the locking tab from retractive movement in a sidewise direction so that the hook portion is retained in looking contact with the opposite end of the slit. Pressure of the contents tending to push the sides of the carton apart produces a transverse pull between the hook portion of the locking tab and its seat in the slit so that the pressure acts in further retention of the hook of the locking tab.

In opening the carton, the operation is reversed to permit withdrawal of the hook portion.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I have provided a carton with closure flaps which are easily in'terengaged and when closed are securely retained and locked in closed position against pressure of the contents. As a matter of fact, the pressure acts to further enhance the engagement between the closure flaps. It is also obvious that I have provided the closure flaps with locking means that readily move in inter engagement incidental to shaping of the locking tongue and slit in which the tongue is engaged.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A carton of the character described, having four sidewalls, two of the opposite sidewalls being ofgreater width than the other two sidewalls, closure fiaps hinging on the wider of said sidewalls on the opposite sides of an insert opening encompassed by said sidewalls, one of said flaps being an underlying flap and the other being an overlying flap, said underlying flap having a transverse slit extending at an angle relative to said wider sidewalls of the carton, said transverse slit having terminal slits at the ends thereof converging toward the sidewall having the overlying flap, alccldng tab projecting from the edge of the overlying flap and having a width corresponding to the length of the transverse slit and having a laterally extending hook portion provided with an inclined side edge conforming with the angle of the terminal slit at the nearest end of the inclined transverse slit and forming a crotch with the edge of the overlying flap, said edge of the overlying flap having offsets on opposite sides of the locking tab corresponding to the inclination of the transverse slit, said hook portion of the locking tab having a rounding terminal curving into a straight edge portion of the locking tab that is parallel with said wider sidewalls of the carton, and said locking tab having the side edge opposite the hook portion at substantially right angles to said edge of the overlying flap and having an angular edge portion connecting said right angular side edge with the straight edge portion of the locking tab and extending in the sameangular direction as the inclined edge of the hook portion to contact the adjacent end of the slit and efiect lateral shifting of the locking tab to bring the crotch of the hook portion into engagement with the junction of transverse slit with the adjacent terminal slit and engagement of the right angular end edge into engagement with the other terminal slit, and end flaps on the narrow sidewalls and adapted to underlie the closure. flaps to provide support .for the ends of the closure flaps without interference with movement of the locking tab Number through the transverse slit. 528,639 EMIL WILLIAM FEHRENKAMP. 987,162 1,404,945 REFERENCES CITED 5 1 32 165 The following references are of record in the 1,713,154 file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,993,153 Number Name Date 10 2,276,820 301,791 Bisler July 3, 18 2,404,067

6 Name Date Lindemeyer Nov. 6, 1894 Oglesby et a1 Mar. 21, 1911 Epstien Jan. 31, 1922 Boeppler Aug. 28, 1928 Williams May 14, 1929 Inman et a1 May 9, 1933 Coyle Aug. 22, 1933 Eggebrecht Mar. 5, 1935 Bonfield Mar. 17, 1942 Hill July 16, 1946 

